He added: “The SNPs strength is in numbers, we have more seats than the other parties in Scotland and more seats than them put together. That is an incredible position of influence to be in.

“One of the ironies is that we will have a Westminster group reduced in numbers but it will have substantial influence in the House of Commons. I wish all my colleagues well.”

He said serving Gordon had been the “privilege of my life” and that he was “grateful for these times.”

When asked by a reporter if his wife would have a few jobs around the house for him to do, he said “apart from plumbing, I am completely handless. So I might take care of some plumbing.”

His sign off on the stage was directed to the large Conservative crowd which had gathered. Drawing on an old Jacobite song, he said “In the midst of your glee, you have not seen the last of my bonnet and me.”

Colin Clark, a recently elected councillor for Inverurie, said the “silent majority” had spoken and that he was “proud to be part of the United Kingdom.”

“I will been a positive voice for Gordon, the North East and Scotland,” he said.